I hear ya, hands-on can definitely teach you a lot. Last year, I figured I'd tackle my bathroom sink—seemed simple enough, right? Turned into a full weekend project, complete with three trips to the hardware store and a mini flood under the cabinet. Learned a ton (mostly about patience, lol), but honestly, next time I'd probably just call someone in from the start. Sometimes the mess and stress aren't worth the DIY bragging rights.
Totally get where you're coming from—been there myself more times than I'd like to admit. A couple quick thoughts:
- DIY plumbing is always trickier than it looks. Even simple jobs can spiral into mini-disasters (ask me how I know...).
- On the flip side, tackling smaller tasks first—like changing a faucet washer or unclogging drains—can build confidence before jumping into deeper waters.
- But yeah, knowing when to wave the white flag and call a pro is key. Saves your sanity and sometimes even money in the long run.
Yeah, plumbing's one of those things that looks easy on YouTube but rarely goes as planned. I usually DIY the basics, but anything involving pipes behind walls or under floors... learned the hard way that's pro territory. Drywall repairs aren't fun either.
Totally agree with you on drywall repairs—they're a nightmare. I thought I'd save some cash replacing a leaky pipe behind the kitchen wall in my old house... ended up uncovering ancient plumbing that looked more like archaeology than home repair. After a weekend of frustration (and way too many trips to the hardware store), I finally called in a pro. Lesson learned: older homes have quirks YouTube doesn't prep you for. Sometimes curiosity just leads to bigger headaches, unfortunately.
I've been there too—old plumbing can be a real rabbit hole. Thought I'd just swap out a faucet once, ended up discovering corroded pipes that practically crumbled when touched. Turned into a full weekend project with way more headaches than anticipated. Still, I do think DIY can be worth it sometimes, especially if you're patient and prepared to learn as you go.
Curious though, at what point do you guys usually decide it's time to call in a pro? Is it the complexity of the job, the age of the house, or just how frustrated you're getting? I tend to push my luck a bit too far sometimes...
